Door closer

ABSTRACT

879,278. Door closing appliances. YALE &amp; TOWNE MANUFACTURING CO. Nov. 27, 1959 [Jan. 14, 1959], No. 40348/59. Class 65(1). In a door closer of the rack and piston type in which rotation of the main operating shaft 15 in either direction moves the piston in one direction, the arm 31 secured to the upper end of the shaft 15 is held on one side or the other of a vertical plane extending longitudinally through the door closer casing, so as to determine the hand of the closer, by a limiting abutment 20 on the casing. The abutment 20 also constitutes one of the mounting brackets of the closer. The arm 31 which carries a roller 35 engaging in a channel member 37 attached to the door is formed with an opening 32 which fits over the correspondingly shaped end 30 of the shaft 15 and is held in position by a flat spring 33. The arm may be moved from one side to the other of the abutment 20 before the closer is installed by first tilting it about the end of the shaft 15 against the action of the spring.

M. M. CHECK July 17, 1962 DOOR CLOSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1959 INVENTOR.

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A Trop/vn July 17, 1962 M. M. CHECK 3,044,103

DOOR CLOSER Filed Jan. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7?). 7M. Czc/ 3,044,103, DOOR CLOSER Mathias M. Check, Stratford, Pa., assigner to The Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn.,

a corporation of Connecticut Filed Jan. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 786,725 6 Claims. (Cl. l6-49) This invention relates to a door closer, and more particularly, a door closer of the rack and piston type in which the rotation of the shaft in either of opposed directions is adapted to move the piston in one direction so that the door closer is adapted yfor universal mounting. This, naturally, eliminates the necessity for right and left hand closers.

My invention is particularly directed to means for simplifying the mounting of a door closer of the class described so that it may control left and right hand doors without substantial change or adjustment. As a feature of this part of the invention, the door closer is adapted for mounting on the door frame, or the `door jamb as it is sometimes called, the arm of the closer being then suitably connected to the door so as to control the door effectively and simply. The door may open in either of opposed directions, the control of the door being maintained preferably by a part of the arm riding in a rail secured to the side of the door. This last feature is itself of considerable importance.

As a further `feature of the invention, the door closer arm is mounted in a novel manner relatively to the closer and the main operating shaft thereof, so as to be readily and easily placed in a left or right hand position without tools and without complex operating means. As a particular feature of this part of the invention, the casing is constructed so that the door closer arm may readily be placed in either of its operating positions prior to the application of the door closer to the door frame. A

A I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be 'better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposesof my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded `as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings:

' FIG. 1 is a section through a door frame taken just above the closer and illustrating its position when applied to control a door mounted for swinging in a clockwise direction.

In FIG. 2, the same door closer is shown applied to an oppositely swinging door.

FIG. 3 is an elevation showing the door closer secured to the door frame and in controlling relation to the door.

FIG. 4 is kan end View of the construction shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section through the door closer showing its construction.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section through a part of the door closer, while FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the channel secured to the door and adapted to contain a roller carried by the arm of the closer.

ReferringV now more particularly to the drawings, and especially FIGS. 5 and 6, the casing of my door closer is designated by reference numeral 10, and mounted within a cylindrical opening in this casing is a conventional piston 11 having rack teeth 12 and 13 for coaction with teeth 14 on a main operating shaft 15. vThe piston is formed with an extension l16 for guiding a spring 17,

`it being the function of the spring to press the piston toV the extreme right hand position illustrated in FIG. 5, this position corresponding tothe closed position of the door. For controlling the closing speed, there is employed a conventional valve 13, the piston having a ball valve 19 that allows free movement of the piston in door opening direction, or to the left from the position of FIG. 5. When the piston moves toward the closed position of FIG. 5, it will move the fluid of the closer past the valve 18, which functions then to control the closing speed. Insofar as I have described my door closer, it is entirely conventional.

The door closer casing 10 is equipped with bracketlike extensions 20 and 21, extension 20 having an opening for a single securing screw 22, while the extension 21 has openings for two securing screws 23. rllhe securing screws 22, 23 secure the extensions 20, 21 to the upper surface of the frame of the door, as is well illustrated in the several' figures. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is an extremely simple manner in which to secure a door closer in position, particularly since the extensions 20 and 21 are so shaped as to lie directly against the frame, making extremely simple the application of the screws 22, 23.

The upper portion of extension 20 takes a novel form, probably best illustrated in FIGS. l and 2. Thus, it is in the form of a substantially triangular abutment 25, the triangular shape being utilized for a purpose that will appear presently.

The upper end 30 of the main door closer shaft 15 earlier referred to, is slabbed to form a substantially rectangularly shaped part, as Well seen in FIGS. l, 2 and 5. The main arm of the door closer is designated by reference numeral 31, and it is formed with an opening 32 adapted to fit over the slabbed end 30 ofthe shaft 15, so as to rotate integrally with that shaft. For holding the arm on the end 30 of the shaft' 15, I utilize novel means comprising va spring mem-ber 33 that bears on the arm 31 Where that arm is applied to the end 30 of the.

shaftlS, all as is lbest shown in FIG. 5. The spring is maintained in position by a screw 34 extendinginto the door closer casing 10. The spring member 33 is of such form that it will yield to allow an upward tilting movement of the arm 31 relatively to the end 30 of the shaft 15 when the closerl 10 is removed from the door frame.

The normal machining clearance provided between the opening 32 in the arm 31 andthe slabbed end 30 of the shaft 15 during manufacture allows sufficient upward tilting movement of the arm 31 to bring it above-the triangularly shaped abutment 25 so that the arm 31 may be moved from the position illustrated in FIG. l to t-he position illustrated in FIG. 2. In other words, the 'arm 31 is readily adjustable to one side or the other of the abutment 25 when the closer casing 10-is removedfrom the `door frame. This arrangement is utilized to change the operating direction of the door closer, as is Well illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, and as will be outlinedrimmediately below.

The arm 31 carries at its outer extreme end a roller 35, this roller beingV adapted tomove in the channel 36 of a channel member 37. Channel member 37 is adapted to 4be secured to the door to be controlled by the closer, as is well illustrated n the several figures, ,land probably best in FIG. 4. With the arm 31 in its position relatively to the abutment 25 illustrated in FIG. l, the roller'35 will coact with the channel member 37, as the door swings clockwise in FIG. 1 to rotate the main shaft 15.V This VPatented July 17, y1962 will naturally compress the spring 17 `until the door is i that the channel 37 is easily secured to the door and that the arm 31 is readily applied to the channel.

i In FIG. 2, the channel 37 is secured to a door adapted to swing counterclockwise. The arm 31 has been moved relatively to the end 30 of the shaft 15 to place it on that side of abutment 25 opposite its position in FIG, l. Obviously, the roller 3S will now coact with channel 37 to control the closing of the door.

Those skilled in the art will now fully appreciate that my `door closer permits universalV application to a left or right hand door without adjustment other than a simple movement of the arm 31. The door closer is secured to theV door frame in the same manner, regardless of the direction of the door opening. Further, the door closer is so constructed that the movement of the arm 31 relatively to the abutment 25 may be easily performed, the abutment 25 acting as `an indicator es well asia limiting member to facilitate application of the closer in its necessary position by someone not skilled in the door closer art. Therefore, lmy door `closer may be installed by anyone equipped with a screw driver to function on any type of door. I believe'that the contribution of my invention will now be well understood by those skilled in the art.

I now claim:

1. In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a shaft rotating in said casing and having an upper end extending upwardly out of said casing, an arm tit-ted on the upper end of the shaft for rotation therewith, energy storing means adapted to be energized for returning `a door to closed position, means interconnecting said shaft and said energy storing means for energizing said energy storing means upon rotation of said shaft and arm in either of opposed directions from `a predetermined position relatively to said casing whereby said closer may be used on both left and right hand doors, a spring holding said arm on said upper end of the shaft, limit means on said casing extending upwardly into the path of rotation of said :arm with said shaft for holding said arm at one side' or the other of said predetermined position relatively to said casing, whereby to determine the hand of said closer, `and said spring yielding to permit movement of said arm above said limit means, whereupon said arm may be moved to one side or the other of said limit means to change the hand of the closer.

2. In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a shaft rotating in said casing and having an upper end extending upwardly out of said casing, an arm secured to the upper .end of the shaft for rotation with said shaft, energy storing means adapted lto be energized for returnfing a door to yclosed position, means interconnecting said shaft and said energy storing means for energizing said energy storing means upon rotation of said shaft and arm in either of opposed directions from a predetermined position relatively to said casing whereby said closer may be used on both left and right hand doors, an abutment extending upwardly on said casing for preventing rotation of said arm from one side or the Vother of said predetermined position to the opposite 'side thereof, and means mounting said arm on said shaft for 'limited' movement upwardly above said abutment whereupon said arm may v be moved 'to one side or the other of said abutment to change the hand of the closer.

, 3, In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a shaft rotating in said casing and having an upper endeatending'upwardly out of said casing, an arm'tted on `the upper end of the shaft for rotation therewith, energy storing means adapted to be venergized for yreturning a ydoor 'to closed position,V means interconnecting said shaft and, said energy storing means for energizing, said energy storing rmeans upon rotation of said shaft land arm in 4 either of opposed directions from a predetermined position relatively to said casing whereby said closer may be used on both left and right hand doors, a spring holding said arm on said upper end, an abutment extending upwardly on said casing for preventing movement of said arm from one side or the other of said predetermined position to the opposite side thereof, whereby to determine the hand of said closer, `and said spring yielding to permit movement of said arm over saidabutment, whereupon said arm may be moved to one side o1' the other of said abutment to change the hand of the closer.

4. In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a shaft rotating in said casing and having an upper end extending upwardly out o-f said casing, an arm fitted on the upper end yof the shaft for rotation therewith, energy storing means adapted to be energized for returning a door to closed position, means interconnecting said shaft and said energy storing means for energizing said energy storing means upon rotation of said shaft and arm in either of opposed directions from a predetermined position relatively to said casing whereby said closer may be used on both left `and right hand doors, `a spring holding said arm on said upper end of the shaft, limit means in the form of a triangular abutment on said casing extending upwardly into the path of rotation of said arm with said shaft for holding said arm at one side or the other of said predetermined position relatively to said casing, whereby to determine the hand of said closer, and said spring yielding to permit movement of said farm above said llimit means, whereupon said arm may be moved to one side or the other of said limit means to change lthe hand of the closer.

5. In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a closer mechanism within said casing including energy storing means for returning a vdoor to closed position, means for securing said casing to the upper surface of a doorway at lone side of a door, longitudinally spaced means extending `above the top of said casing and engaging the upper surface of the doorway so as to hold fthe casing away from said upper surface of the doorway and provide a space between the casing and the upper surface of the doorway which is open at each side of said casing, an operating shaft connected to said mechanism in said casing and operable to energize said energy storing means upon rotation thereof in either direction, said operating shaft extending from the top of said casingvinto said space, an operating arm connected to said operating shaft and adapted to extend from said space on either side of said casing depending on the hand of the door on which the closer is to be used, and said arm being of a length that it may engage said longitudinally spaced means whereby rotation of said arm from a position in which said arm extends from said space on one side of said casing to a position in which said arm extends from said space on the other-side of said casing is prevented and the hand of the closer is determined.

6. In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a closer mechanism within said casing including energy storing means for returning to door to closed position, means for securing said casing to the upper surface of a doorway at one side of a door, longitudinally spaced means extending above the top of said casing and engaging the supper surface of the doorway so as to hold the casing away from said upper surface of the doorway and provide a space betweenrthe casing and the upper surface of the doorway which isopen at each side of said casing, Ian 'operating shaft connected to said .mechanism in saidV casing and operable to ,energizeA said energy storing means upon rotation thereof in Yeither direction, said `operating shaft extending from the top of said casing into `said space,an operating arm connected to said operating shaf-t and 'adapted to extend from said space on either side of said casing depending on the hand of the door on which the closer is to be used, said arm being of a length that it may engage said longitudinally spaced means whereby rotation of said `arm from a position in which said arm extends from said space on one side of said casing to a position in which said arm extends fro-m said space on the other side of said casing is prevented and the hand of the closer is determined, and means connecting said arm yto said shaft -for limited upward movement whereby said arm may clear the top of said spaced means when the casing is detached from the doorway 120 allow rotation of said arm Ato a position in which said arm extends from said space on the other side of said casing so as to `change the hand of the closer without detaching the arm from said shaft References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 3, 1932 

